LOCAL ROUNDUP: Auburn Dixie Majors win state title

Staff reports
Published: July 19, 2008

TUSCUMBIA — For the second year in a row, Auburn’s All-Stars are being crowned champions of the Dixie Majors (17-19) State Tournament.

Auburn captured the state title on Saturday with a pair of wins over Underwood.

After losing Game 1 to Underwood on Friday, 8-7, Auburn staved off elimination with a 4-3 win early Saturday.

That forced a deciding Game 3 which Auburn won, 9-4.

Auburn now moves on to the Dixie World Series in Dyersburg, Tenn., on July 26.

In the deciding Game 3, Drew Hull got the win, striking out eight and coming up two outs short of a complete game when he hit his pitch limit.

Michael King got the final two outs.

Hull also had a single and a double at the plate with an RBI and was named tournament MVP.

Creede Simpson had two RBI, Chance Lawrence had a single, Whitt Dorsey had a single and a double and two RBI, Drake Sasser had two singles and an RBI, Jace Harper had a single and an RBI, John Gunnels had two singles and an RBI and Taylor Register had a double.

In Saturday’s first game, Caleb Cofield started on the hill and was relieved by Michael King who got the win.

Harper had three RBI in the game while Hull added an RBI. Will Ruffin had a double.

Auburn Orange opens state play with win
CLANTON — Auburn Orange got off to a roaring start at the Dixie Youth AAA (9-10) State Tournament.

Behind 15 total hits, Auburn easily cruised into the winners’ bracket with an 18-2 win over Crossville.

Bradley Northcutt got the win, pitching two innings.

Austin Triplett and Ryan Watson were each 3-for-3 and Drew Beisel was 2-for-2.

Auburn plays today at 7:30 p.m. against either Taylorville American or Montgomery American Blue.

Auburn 14s win big over Prattville
THOMASVILLE — Auburn’s Dixie 14s picked up another win in their Sub-State tournament.

Saturday, Auburn needed just 4½ innings to take out Prattville, 13-2.

Tyler Storm pitched a complete game to earn the win.

Kyler Deese, Landon Sessions and Branden Key each had two hits to pace Auburn.

Jack Folmar, Chase Edwards, Tate Howard and Matt Gregg each had a hit.

Auburn plays today at 3 p.m. against either Troy or Montgomery American.

16U Dirt Devils finish third at ISA World Series
McDONOUGH, Ga. — The Dirt Devils 16U Softball team finished third Saturday in the ISA World Series in Henry County Georgia. They faced the Central Florida Sting and lost 11-6.

The team was awarded the Best Sportsmanship Award and four girls were named to the all tournament team. They were Falecia Harrelson, Peyton DeLong, Marina Wilkerson and Kimberlyn Gillock.

For the tournament, the Dirt Devils went 4-2-1.

The Dirt Devils were the only team to defeat the tournament champions Central Florida Sting — once in pool play and once in bracket play.

It was an excellent week for this team. Four girls had first-time homeruns and five girls batted over 400.

The Dirt Devils travel to Valley next Friday night to play in the UFA Moon Light Madness which will be an all night tournament.

Second leg of Smiths Station running event complete
SMITHS STATION — The second stage of the Triple Crown Series at Smiths Station High went smoothly Saturday morning.

The one-mile race featured 10 young runners, from 4 years old to 11 years old.

The overall female winner was Kaylann Simpson, of Opelika, who finished the mile in 7:10.

Overall male winner Kelsie Walls, of Smiths Station, finished in 7:42.

Sixty-three runners finished the 5K road race, including co-champions Nathan Pickett, Tim English and John McNeill. The trio of Smiths Station graduates, who all attend Columbus State, finished in 15:55.

Kandace Smith, of Columbus, Ga., won the female title, running the 5K in 19:29.

Opelika’s Kayley Glover finished second on the female side with a 19:54. Phenix City’s Andrea Lewallen was third, in 20:01.

The Male Master Division winner was Kermit Davis, of Auburn, who finished in 19:12.

The Female Master winner was Heather Lloyd, of Auburn, who ran the 5K course in 23:12.

Defending champion Greg Rucker dominated the Grandmaster race, finishing in 18:34, with a 64-second margin.

The series’ final race is scheduled for August 16, with the one-mile race at 6:45 a.m. and the 5K at 7:15 a.m. All runners will receive a free pancake breakfast.

Auburn Blue 11-12s beat Alexandria

ANNISTON — The Auburn Blue Dixie Youth Majors (11-12) All-Stars beat Alexandria, 8-4, in the state tournament.

Hunter Roland led Auburn at the plate with a grand slam, while Delton Wall was 3-for-3 with a home run. Justin Carter, Scout Price, Shelby Gulledge, Haven Barnes and Shane Mosiello each had a hit for Auburn.